Twisted and Mysterious

Twisted and Mysterious

by Sarah and Faren Bearowitz

Vanished at the Edge of a Farmhouse: The Brianna Maitland Mystery

Picture this: you're 17, you just finished your shift at work, and your car ends up halfway through a wall of an abandoned farmhouse. Sounds like the start of a horror movie, right? Sadly, it’s the baffling real-life mystery of Brianna Maitland. In this episode, we dive headfirst into one of Vermont’s strangest unsolved disappearances—full of cryptic clues, sketchy acquaintances, and a lot of "Wait... WHAT?" moments. We’ll walk you through the timeline, separate fact from small-town gossip, and yes, make the occasional joke to keep ourselves from spiraling into existential dread. (That’s how we cope. Respectfully, of course.) Because when life gives you unsolved mysteries, we say: investigate... then nervously laugh a little. Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, please take a moment to leave us a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts and consider subscribing to the show. You can find us on social media @twistedandmysterious and email us at twistedandmysteriouspodcast@gmail.com.

Maura Murray and the Case of the Vanishing Coed

In 2004, 21-year-old Maura Murray emailed her professors about a "death in the family," packed her car with snacks, booze, and more than a few secrets, and drove off into the snowy woods of New Hampshire...never to be seen again. What followed was not your average missing persons case--it was full-on internet obsession complete with cryptic clues, shady phone calls, and a search party that somehow involved both cadaver dogs and conspiracy theorists with Reddit PhDs. Was Maura running away? Was she abducted? Did she step into a glitch in the Matrix? Thanks for listening! If you have a minute, please rate, review, and subscribe. You can also find us on social media @twistedandmysterious or email us at twistedandmysteriouspodcast@gmail.com.

The Stanley Hotel

This week, we check into the famously haunted Stanley Hotel—where the views are stunning, the ghosts are active, and the walls have definitely heard things. Built by Freelan Stanley, inventor, entrepreneur, and overachiever with a mustache to match, the hotel was originally a luxurious mountain escape for the well-to-do (and unwell-to-do—Stanley himself came to Estes Park for tuberculosis recovery). Unfortunately, like most great American landmarks, the hotel sits on land forcibly taken from Native American tribes, because history is nothing if not deeply haunted. As we wander the echoing halls, we explore how an actual explosion in 1911 nearly took out a maid (who now reportedly haunts Room 217 while folding towels with passive-aggressive energy), how the hotel inspired Stephen King’s The Shining, a novel that proves isolation and 70s carpet patterns are a deadly combo. Thanks for listening! If you have a minute, please rate, review, and subscribe. You can also find us on social media @twistedandmysterious and email us your personal stories or story suggestions to twistedandmysteriouspodcast@gmail.com.

The Haunted Villisca Axe Murder House

This week, we dive back into Iowa’s most infamous fixer-upper: the Villisca Axe Murder House. In 1912, a horrific and unsolved murder left eight people dead—and ever since, the ghosts have apparently been auditioning for their own reality show. Join us as we discuss the legends, the cold case, and the number of times ghosts have slammed the door in Zak Bagans' face. We’ll examine all the burning questions: Is it haunted? Who did it? Why is there always one guy who thinks challenging the ghost to a fight is a good idea? Spoiler alert: It never is. Thanks for listening! If you have a minute, please rate, review, and subscribe. You can also find us on social media @twistedandmysterious and email us your personal stories or story suggestions to twistedandmysteriouspodcast@gmail.com.

The Villisca Axe Murders

Welcome to Villisca, Iowa—home to friendly neighbors, charming farms, and one of the most brutal unsolved axe murders in American history. This week, we take a cheerful little stroll into utter horror with the Villisca Axe Murders—because nothing says “Midwestern hospitality” like eight people bludgeoned in their sleep by a mystery guest. In 1912, someone crept into the Moore family’s home, committed a full-blown massacre, and then… stuck around? Covered mirrors, made a plate of food, maybe did a little redecorating? Eight people. One axe. No motive. No sense of urgency from investigators who were like, “Let’s invite the whole town to trample the crime scene—what could go wrong?” Thanks for listening! If you have a minute, please rate, review, and subscribe. You can also find us on social media @twistedandmysterious and email us your personal stories or story suggestions to twistedandmysteriouspodcast@gmail.com.

The Exorcism of Roland Doe/Robbie Manheim

"THE POWER OF CHRIST COMPELS YOU!" -Dr. Evil This week we explore the totally chill, not-at-all disturbing case of Roland Doe--a teenager in the 1940s who allegedly got possessed after dabbling with a Ouija board, because apparently Hasbro was out here ruining lives decades before Monopoly fights. Spoiler: this is the real-life case that inspired The Exorcist, which means things get wildly dramatic and suspiciously cinematic. Thanks for listening! If you have a minute, please rate, review, and subscribe. You can also find us on social media @twistedandmysterious and email us your personal stories or story suggestions to twistedandmysteriouspodcast@gmail.com.

The Cirigliano Family

Faren's telling us a story (!!!)--a weird story about the time the Cirigliano Family went missing and went on a Mr. Dursley-went-crazy-running-from-Hogwarts-letters adventure. Don't forget to call 9-1-1 and let them know everything is just fine tonight and not to worry about anything. Thanks for listening! If you have a minute, please rate, review, and subscribe. You can also find us on social media @twistedandmysterious and email us your personal stories or story suggestions to twistedandmysteriouspodcast@gmail.com.

The lululemon Murder

Get ready for a big fat bummer. This week we delve into the horrifically brutal murder of Jayna Murray. Spoiler alert: if you think you're smart enough to get away with murder, you aren't. Thanks for listening! If you have a minute, please rate, review, and subscribe. You can also find us on social media @twistedandmysterious and email us your personal stories or story suggestions to twistedandmysteriouspodcast@gmail.com.

Legend of Champ

Today we take a little trip to upstate NY, where a little guy known as Champ (Champy, to his friends) resides in Lake Champlain. Is he an everlasting dinosaur or a really big goldfish? Is he a he? Should he and Nessie have little dinosaur babies? So many questions, so few answers. Thanks for listening! If you have a minute, please rate, review, and subscribe. You can also find us on social media @twistedandmysterious and email us your personal stories or story suggestions to twistedandmysteriouspodcast@gmail.com.

The 1986 Excedrin Poisonings

As chronic Excedrin users, this week was a doozy. We're talking about the Excedrin poisonings of Washington State in 1986 (when Faren was but a wee babe). This episode has it all: murder, mayhem, fish, and headaches. Thanks for listening! If you have a minute, please rate, review, and subscribe. You can also find us on social media @twistedandmysterious and emails us your personal stories or story suggestions to twistedandmysteriouspodcast@gmail.com.

5 of 7